Children Youth and Communities for Change (CYCC)

Project Goal:

The Children, Youth, and Communities for Change (CYCC) program is a long-term, child- and youth-centered community development initiative developed by Transform Aid International and launched in 2018 to transition from welfare-based approaches to a holistic, rights-based, and participatory model. Its overall goal is to empower children and youth—especially the most vulnerable and marginalized—to realize their full potential by improving their well-being, strengthening their rights, and enabling them to actively contribute to sustainable change within their communities.

Overall Project Objective:

CYCC seeks to create lasting, positive change by implementing long-term, phased projects (typically around nine years) through partnerships with locally based organizations. These projects work simultaneously at the level of the individual child or youth, their household, and the wider community to build an enabling environment where young people can thrive. The program emphasizes meaningful participation, recognizing children and youth as active partners in development who are involved in all stages of the project cycle—from design to evaluation—while also engaging duty bearers such as families, community leaders, and government institutions to fulfill their responsibilities. Grounded in a child rights-based approach aligned with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, CYCC ensures that children’s rights are understood, respected, and realized in practical, measurable ways.

Project Outcomes:

CYCC projects are structured around four key thematic outcomes: survival, development, protection, and participation. Under survival, children and youth gain improved access to basic needs and essential services such as healthcare, nutrition, clean water, and sanitation. Under development, they experience enhanced opportunities for education, skills building, and holistic growth across physical, emotional, and social dimensions. Under protection, strengthened systems and practices ensure children and youth are safeguarded from abuse, neglect, and exploitation while promoting safe and supportive environments. Under participation, children and youth actively engage in decision-making processes, express their views, and take leadership roles within their communities. These outcomes are reinforced by cross-cutting priorities such as gender equality, disability inclusion, and social inclusion, alongside considerations of environmental sustainability, climate change, and innovation. Through strong partnerships, continuous monitoring, evaluation, and learning, CYCC ensures that these outcomes are sustainable, evidence-based, and responsive to the evolving needs of children, youth, and their communities.